Galion students deserve your support Tuesday

In the summer of 2004, a Galion citizen prepared a petition that placed an issue on the November ballot, which would remove part of an old, permanent levy approved by voters in the early 1970s. Since that time, your schools have lost $750,000 each year; a total of $6 million in operating money that should have been received from the original levy.

Drastic cuts in staff, programs and services have been made each of the last nine years while costs have escalated, state funds were cut and state mandates were increased. The cuts the district has had to make have gone past deep, they are now at the bone. Class sizes are larger, which translates to poorer state test scores. Fewer challenging courses can be offered for high school and middle school students who need these classes to be successful in college and in the workplace.

Due to age, four of the school buses must be replaced for the safety of children. The cost of a school bus is $75,000 to well over $85,000 each.

A 9.4-mil, 5-year levy is on the ballot for a special election to be held Tuesday. The levy is broken into two separate parts, 8 mils for operating expenses and 1.4 mils for permanent improvements such as building repairs and fixtures, books, school buses, technology, etc. If this levy passes, the present tax rollbacks will remain in place for taxpayers.

Galion citizens have taken great pride in Galion schools - from the 1985 state football championship to the accomplishments of Galion students locally, statewide, nationally and worldwide.

A city that does not support its schools is not a city where people want to raise their children and in which businesses and industries want to relocate. Galion should not be that city.

Please vote for your schools and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.